The expiation for a gathering is a dhikr that is mentioned in the Prophet’s Sunnah. It is to be recited after every gathering as an expiation for sins and idle talk. It is: “ Subhanak Allahumma wa bi hamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayka (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah; I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except You; I ask for Your forgiveness and I repent to You).” The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained that the expiation for the gathering should be recited at the end of every gathering in which a man sits, whether it is a gathering of dhikr or a gathering in which there was a great deal of idle talk. If it was a gathering of dhikr, that will be recorded for him as a righteous deed, and if it was otherwise, that will be an expiation for it.

Dhikr in general, if it involves raising the voice and reciting in unison, is a Bid`ah (innovation) that has been introduced into the religion and was not the practice of the righteous early generations.

Prophet Muhammad said: “Whoever says, `La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu'l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa `ala kulli shay`in qadir’ one hundred times in a day, will have (a reward) equivalent to freeing 10 slaves, 100 good deeds will be recorded for him and 100 bad deeds will be erased from him, and he will be protected from the devil for that day until evening comes. No one can do anything better than what he has done except one who says it more than that.”

With regard to the Adhkar which are spoken on the tongue, such as reciting Quran, saying Tasbih, Tahmid, and Tahlil, and the Dhikrs to be recited in the morning and evening, when going to sleep, when entering the washroom, and so on, it is essential to move the tongue, and a person is not regarded as having said them if he does not move his tongue.

Whoever prays Fajr in congregation then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two Rak`ahs, will have a reward like that of Hajj and `Umrah.

There is nothing wrong with repeating this dhikr – “Subhan alladhi yusabbih ur-ra‘du bi hamdihi wa’l-mala’ikatu min kheefatihi (Glory be to the One Whom the thunder glorifies and praises, and the angels [also glorify Him] out of fear and awe of Him” – when hearing thunder more than once.